A selection of websites explaining how Switzerland is structured and how it functions, providing you with the information you will need to form an opinion and exercise your political rights from overseas

Services

Contact the responsible Swiss representation or consulate when you want to register or unregister as a resident, when you need a new passport, have moved or wish to apply for citizenship. The entire selection of services offered can be found in the dropdown menu to the right. The contact details of the responsible Swiss representation are shown on the corresponding page.

Swiss citizens who get into difficulties abroad, also can ask for advice and help from the Swiss representative.

The magazine for the Swiss Abroad appears six times a year and provides information about what is happening at home and the activities of Swiss associations abroad. It also answers administrative questions.

Social assistance

Under certain circumstances, the federal government provides social assistance to Swiss nationals living abroad who run into financial difficulty. The first step is to contact the Swiss representation responsible for your place of residence.

If you have already returned to Switzerland, you should contact the social assistance service in the municipality in which you are registered.

The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) operates a fund for providing financial assistance in the form of interest-free loans to returning Swiss nationals. One of the conditions is that applications have to be made within one year after their return. The purpose of this service is to help returning Swiss nationals overcome temporary emergencies and reintegrate into Swiss society. Please note that this support is intended to be subsidiary to social assistance and/or unemployment benefits.